Axle.



No. 650,474. Patented May 29, I900.

J. McCAULEY.

AXLE.

(Application filed Nov. 7, 1898.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Onrron.

J AMES MCCAULEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE STAVER CARRIAGE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,474, dated May 29, 1900.

Application filed November '7, 1898. Serial No. 695,697. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MCCAULEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to axles for vehicles, and has for its object to provide improved means for lubricating the axle and collecting dust therefrom.

That which I regard as new will be set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the axle and axle-box. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a part of the axle tree or bar and box, and Fig. 3 is a view of the spindle.

In the accompanying drawings, 4 indicates the axle-bar; 5, the spindle; 6, the axle-box, and 7 the cap or nut by which the box is retained upon the spindle. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the spindle 5 is provided with two longitudinal grooves S 9, separate and distinct from each other and having no communication with each other, the groove 8 being preferably somewhat longer than the groove 9 and being located in front of said groove. The groove 8 is placed at the upper side of the spindle and terminates near, but does not extend to, the ends thereof. It is provided with a duct 10, which is preferably arranged at the center, and is on the forward side with reference to the direction of rotation of the wheel, as shown in Fig. 3, which illustrates one of the spindles at the right-hand side of the vehicle. The groove Sis adapted to con tain oil or other fluid lubricator, the oil being drawn out thereof by the rotation of the wheel, passing out through the ductlO, and being spread over the surface of the spindle by the rotation of the wheel. The groove 9 is adapted to collect dust or other solid particles which find their way between the axle box and spindle and by removing them from the surface of the spindle prevent them from clogging or damaging the bearings.

The oil is prevented'frorn escaping at the ends of the axle-spindle, and the entrance of dust to the spindle is materially guarded against by the following construction and arrangement of parts, which I prefer to adopt; but I do not confine my invention to such construction, as the same is not specifically claimed herein.

The axle-box 6 fits upon the spindle 5 and is provided at its inner end with an annular flange 11, the outer face of which is prefer ably rounded, as shown in Fig. 2. The axle bar 4. is provided with an annular shoulder 12 at the inner end of the spindle, opposite the inner end of the axle-box 6, said shoulder having a groove 13, adapted to receive the flange 11 of the axle-box. A washer 14 is provided in said groove. As shown in the drawings, the flange 11 fits snugly against the washer 14, and it is held tightly thereagainst, as will be hereinafter described, so as to form a substantially oil-tight connection at that point. The shoulder 12 lies opposite the inner end of the axle-box 6 and is not greater than, and preferably slightly less in diameter than, the inner end of the axle-box, as shown in Fig. 2.

The outer end of the axle-box 6 is provided with an annular flange 16, similar to the flange 11, which flange projects into the cap 7, the latter being provided with a flange 16 to receive it. The flange 16 lies opposite the outer end of the axle-box 6 and is of a diame ter not greater than, and preferably of slightly less diameter than, said box at its outer end, for reasons similar tothose already given as regards the shoulder 12. A washer 17 is provided between the flange 15 and the opposite portion of the cap 7 and is compressed tightly between them, forming a substantially oiltight connection at the outer end of the box.

The cap 7 screws upon the reduced end 18 of the spindle 5, which is screw-threaded to receive it. The cap 7 also is provided with a set-screw 19, screwed into the outer end thereof in line with the reduced portion 18 of the axle-spindle, which screw is adj 'ustable in the cap to regulate the position of the cap upon the spindle. By adjusting the screw 19 the cap may be set upmore or less for the purpose of shifting the box longitudinally suf= ficiently to compensate for wear and maintain tight connections at the ends of the box.

For the purpose of affording further pro tection against the admission of dust to the axle-spindle a groove 20 is preferably provided on the shoulder 12, said groove being spiral in form and extending around the shoulder 12 from the upper portion to the lower portion thereof, the lower end thereof being farthest from the inner end of the axlebox. By this construction the dust or dirt which enters the space between the shoulder 12 and the overhanging portion of the Wheelhnb is caught in the groove 20 and gradually works around to the under side of the hub, where it is discharged. This construction I prefer, but do not restrict my invention thereto, as the same is not specifically claimed herein.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 

